Bulls select Caleb Wilson No. 4 overall in the NBA draft

Kamran Nia, The News & Observer on Jun 23, 2026

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Caleb Wilson regularly changes his phone background.

For the past few months, the 19-year-old told ESPN’s Malika Andrews that he’s stared at a photo of himself walking into UNC’s 76-61 loss at Duke on March 7. He didn’t play in that game because of a thumb injury that ended his season.

Any time Wilson is tired before a workout and needs a lift, he looks at his wallpaper.

“This guy right here would’ve died to play,” Wilson said in the interview.

Wilson’s work paid off Tuesday night when the Chicago Bulls picked the forward with the No. 4 selection of the 2026 NBA draft. The Atlanta native became the first Tar Heel drafted in the top five since Marvin Williams and Raymond Felton in 2005.

Last season, Wilson became the second UNC freshman to lead the Tar Heels in scoring, rebounding and steals after Tyler Hansbrough did in 2005-06. He averaged 19.8 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 24 games, scoring double-digit points in every contest.

Wilson’s persistence, as his phone constantly reminds him, helped him reach this point. He grinds in the film room more than other players, last season’s coach Hubert Davis said in December.

“I’ve never seen a freshman do this on his own,” Davis said. “He’s just always in a position of listening and learning.”

Draft experts laud Wilson’s explosiveness and upside despite a lack of ball-handling and perimeter shooting prowess — 25.9% from beyond the 3-point line last season. He is seen as a more raw prospect than some of the other players selected ahead of him, but analysts raved about his ceiling pre-draft.

The Athletic pointed out his over 7-foot wingspan and 9-foot standing reach, alongside his “twitchy” athleticism, rebounding and productivity as a freshman, in their draft guide.

“Caleb Wilson from North Carolina, he’s probably the most dynamic athlete in the draft,” said ESPN NBA and college basketball analyst Jay Bilas during a pre-draft media call.

The Bulls found themselves in an unusual position, picking within the top four of the NBA draft despite having just about a 20% chance to jump into the position following a 12th-place Eastern Conference finish. After starting the season with a 6-1 record, the Bulls went into a free fall for much of the season.

The Bulls’ entire roster is 30 years old or younger, with a young core that includes guard Josh Giddey and forward Matas Buzelis.

The last time the Bulls selected in the top five of the NBA draft, they took Florida State’s Patrick Williams, who played just 20.5 minutes per game last season.

With Wilson, the Bulls are desperately hoping he works out better than Williams.

Wilson did not need long to adjust to collegiate hoops, scoring 24 points on 81.8% shooting in an 87-74 November victory over No. 19 Kansas. His production hardly slowed down the rest of the year before he missed the final nine games of the season with two different hand injuries.

In Wilson’s absence, UNC finished the season with three straight losses, falling to Duke, Clemson in the ACC Tournament and VCU in the NCAA Tournament.

Wilson appears fully healthy now, and he participated in the mid-May NBA combine in Chicago.

But he definitely won’t forget those grueling moments sitting on the bench.